Automatic switch-stand for railroads



(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 1 H. A. HANOOX. AUTOMATIC SWITGH STAND FORRAILROADS.

No. 466,979. 9 Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

U FlllEl- A TTOR/VEY.

\NO Model.) ZSheets-Sheet 2.

H. A. HANOOX. AUTOMATIC SWITCH STAND FOR RAILROADS5 No. 466,979.Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

' spindle.

ing the lock-chain.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. HANCOX; OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH-STAND FOR RAILROADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,979, dated January12, 1892.

I Application filed May 20, 1891. Serial No. 393,506. (No model.)

indicates the position of the handle-pivot.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY A. I-IANOOX, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Switch- Stands for Railroads; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeanduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invent-ion relates to an automatic switchstand especially adapted toself locking switches for steam-railroads; and my object has been todesign a stand that can be moved freely when the switch is operatedautomatioally by the wheels of a passing train and yet is so arrangedthat it can be at the same time securely locked, so as to successfullyresist the attempts of a mischievous or malicious person to tamper withit. I accomplish these objects by means fully shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my high target-stand, in which Arepresents the cast-iron barrel and base; B, the target-spindle; C, thetarget; D, the lamp-ball; E, the adjustable upper step; F, the handle;G, the adjustable lower step; H, the target-clamp; I, the crank tothe-spindle B; J, the ball-and-socket connection, and K the hinged capfor fastening the switch-bar M to the ball 0 of the crank- L is a collarthat confines the movement to a quarter-turn. P is a slot-seat for thekey for locking the handle down; R, a snow-hood for sheltering the keyand attach- S is the swivel-casting; U, the jaw for receiving thehandle. W indicates the position of the saw-tooth x on the jaw U, whichfits into a corresponding de- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the adjustable upper steps; Fig. 5, a side elevationof the same.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the handle and collar of the shell onthe line 0 p of Fig. 1, showing the bosses Z Z and handle in place.

Fig. 7 is a top view and side elevation of the key P, of which f is arivet that prevents the key from being pulled through, and e is thelock-hole for receiving the padlock. o is a projection on the key, whichfits into a notch cast in the opposite side of the swivel-casting S, asshown at n in Fig. 2. This'prevents the key from being pulled wholly outwhen thrown back to lift the handle.

Fig. 8 shows a horizontal section through the jaw of the casting U, andFig. 9 is an elevation of the same.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the casting S or swivel-fulcrum which hasdepressions or notches w transversely bisecting its face, as fully shownin-Fig. 3, and which exactly corresponds in shape to the saw-tooth at ofthe casting U.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the jaw, showing the snow-hood h and mouth Tfor receiving the handle F. (Shown elsewhere.) Fig. 12 is a plan of thesame.

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the switch-bar M, of which KJ represent thehemispheres which incase the ball 0 of the boot-crank of the spindle.same, showing the ball of the crank-spindle in place, .9 being an earwhich interlocks with ears r 7' cast upon J and held in place by a rivetor key.

Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18 show, respectively, rear, front plan, and sideviews of the targetclamp H, of which n is a set-screw that holds thecollar to the target-spindle B, m the apron, and "a a saw-tooth-shapedprojection cast 'upon it, which fits a corresponding depression a" inthe target, and serves to hold it in place.

Fig. 19 is a side view of the handle F, of which .2 is a projection thatguides the key when passed through its bearings.

Figs. 20 and 21 show a rear and side elevation of the lamp-ball with itstarget-clamp Fig. 14. is a side elevation of the ICO attachment, similarto that represented in Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive.

Figs. 22 and show the adjustable lower step, of which Fig. 22 is a planview and Fig. 23 a side elevation.

Fig. 24 is a horizontal section through the barrel A and step G ontheline a b, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 25 is aside view of the targetclamped in position on the spindle B.

Fig. 26 shows the crank-spindle B with the ball 0, which is attached tothe switch-bar M, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

When it is desired to manually operate the switch, the padlock iswithdrawn, the key P is displaced, and the handle F, pivoting at j, islifted to a horizontal position, the head pass ing into the snow-hood hand hollow cavity T of the riding jaw II, where it forms a bite anddirect connection through the spindle B and switch-bar M with the switchitself. \Vhen the handle F is again returned to its former position, orvertical, it clears the jaw U. The casting S revolves on thecrank-spindle B, while the riding casting U is fastened to B at a by asquare socket m and set-screw k. \Vhen the handle F is placed invertical position, it is wholly disconnected from the crank spindle andswitch, and leaves the spindle B free to be operated by the switch whenautomatically thrown.

In order that the cavity I of the jaw U may always be directly inposition for receiving the handle F when it is desired to manuallyoperate it, a transverse saw-tooth a: is east on the piece U andcorresponding channels made, as at V, on the bearing-surface of thecasting S. hen the casting S is rendered immovable by the handle F beinglocked between the bosses z and the switch is automatically thrown, thetooth a: jumps from its socket to by the forcible turning of the jaw Uwith the spindle B, said jaw sliding around on the surface of thecasting S until the tooth x drops into the channel WV of the nextquarter, (see Fig. 3,) which is equal to the total throw of the switch.

The crank-spindle B has a ball 0 and socket K J connection with theswitch-bar M for the purpose of seeurin g a triple movement essential inadapting it to a self-locking switch,because of the different angularmotions of the switch-bar M.

The target 0 is made adjustable by providing a cast-iron collar with anoverlapping front or apron having the saw-tooth u or other projectionupon the inner side which is not equal in depth to the thickness of thetarget.

Fig. 27 is a detail showing the notch in the lower part of thetarget-plate.

Vhen the collar II is set up by the set-screw r, the apron clamps thetarget against the spindle B, while the tooth fits into a correspondingshaped notch a (shown in Fig. 27) in the target and prevents its beingpulled through laterally. The lamp-ball D is provided with a similarclamp attachment.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. An automatic railwayswitch stand having at the lower end of itsspindle a horizontally-tu ruin g crank provided with a ball-andsocketconnection with the rail-bar, whereby the switch is operated,substantially as specilied.

2. In an automatic railway-switch stand, the combination, with thespindle, its crank provided with a ball-and-soeket connection andrail-bar, and the hand-lever and its locking devices, of theturning-collar on the spindle carrying the pivot of the hand-lever, itsface notch or notches and the riding-j aw engaging the spindle, and theteeth of said jaw adapted to jump the face-notch of the turning-collarwhen the handle is locked, substantially as specified.

3. In an automatic switch-stand, the combination, with a squared spindleand its footcrank, the rail-bar, and ball-and-socket connection, of thehand-lever and locking devices therefor, the swivel-fulcrum of thehand-lever, its face-notch, and the toothed riding-jaw engaging saidspindle, substantially as specified.

4.. In an automatic switch-stand, the combination,with the hand-leverand its notched swivel-collar, of the hooded riding-jaw and its tooth,the squared spindle, the key-seat of the swivel-collar, and the key,substantially as specified.

5. In a railway-switch stand, the combination, with the squared spindleand the notched signal or target, of the clamp having a thin tooth,shoulder, or projection on the inside of its flange adapted to engageand hold socurely the signal or target, substantially as specified.

6. In a railway-switch stand, the combination, with the hollow stand andcrank-spindle, of the rail-bar and its ball-and-socket connection withsaid crankspindle, the ridingj aw and revolving fulcrum-collar, and thetarget and its clamps, substantially as specified.

7. In a railway-switch stand, the combination, with the swivel-collarcasting S, and the handle, of the handle-pivot in said swivelcollarcasting, the squared spindle, the riding-jaw engaging said spindle, itsset-scrcw and snow-hood, the key and its stops, and the bosses Z Z ofthe stand, substantially as specified.

8. In an automatic railway-switch stand, the combination, with the standand its locking bosses, and the squared spindle and its footcrank, ofthe rail-bar having a ball-and-socket connection with said spindle, thehand-lever and its locking devices, the turning-collar on the spindle,carrying the pivot of the hand lever, and the riding-jaw engaging thespindle, substantially as specified.

9. In an automatic railway-switch stand, the combination, with thecranked spindle and its rail-bar ball-and-socket connection, and theswitch-stand and its locking-bosses, of the hand-lever and itsfulcrum-collar, the facenotch of said collar, the locking-key and itsseat, and the riding-jaw engaging said spindle, substantially asspecified.

5 10. In an automatic railway-switch stand, the combination, with thespindle and its crank, the rail-bar and ball, and'sectional socketconnection, of the fulcrum-casting S, jaw U, set-screw k, cap K, hood h,and hanto dle F, substantially as specified.

11. In an automatic railway-switch stand,

the combination, with the cranked spindle B, of the clamp-collar H,apron m, tooth to, setscrew o, lamp ball D and its clamp, the notchedtarget, the rail-bar, and the stand A, I 5 substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' HENRY A. I-IANCOX.

Witnesses:

PHILIP C. MASI,

'GEo. H. PARMELEE.

